How to Migrate WordPress Blog to new Server with Zero Downtime

WordPress is most popular CMS. It provides lots of features when it is self-hosted. If you have running WordPress blog and wants to migrate from old host provider to the new host provider. Then this tutorial is for you because here I am going to share a trick to migrate WordPress blog with almost zero downtime. Isn’t it cool??

During startup, you go with a starter plan or a shared hosting plans to start a new blog. But eventually, when your blog gets more traffic, you start facing some server issue like down time. So, this is the time you have to move on Virtual Private Server (VPS) or a dedicated server. During migration, you have to move all the files from old server to the new server.

Migrating your blog from old host to new one is quite tricky. There are some risks during migration: You may –

Break your blog.

Face downtime.

Loses your data.

DNS resolution takes almost 24 hours to propagate successfully. So, I would advise you to migrate WordPress blog during the time you get low traffic such as night time.

After migration, you may face some minor issues regarding with speed or optimization. So choose a free day so that you can fix them.

After importing click on structure option in top Navigation and note down table prefix.

Till now you have noted following things for your database:

Name

Username

Password

Table prefix

Edit wp-config.php file

Now, you have to edit existing wp-config.php file on your new WordPress installation.

Go to new host’s cPanel.

Select File Manager.

Select your WordPress directory.

Navigate to wp-config.php file.

Right, click and choose Code Edit.

Now add all the noted values in the wp-config file.

Save it.

That’s it, you are done with almost 98% migration.

Migrate WordPress by changing Nameservers

Now you have to point DNS Nameservers to your new host. This will completely migrate WordPress blog to new host. Before that check all the things to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

To change nameservers choose low traffic duration of your site as I said earlier, it takes 24 hours to propagate.

Quick recap:

Download wp-content directory from old host

Take database backup from host’s cPanel

Install WordPress on new host

Upload wp-content directory on new host

Create Database on New Host

Upload Database to new host

Edit wp-config.php file

Update Nameserver to point to new hosting

Conclusion

So, this is how you can easily migrate your existing WordPress blog to the new host. I hope this tutorial will help you to migrate WordPress blog with zero downtime, but if you stuck anywhere just drop a comment for help.

Amit Malewar has been the tutorial writer since 2013. His passion for helping people in all aspects of technology flow through in the expert coverage he provides. In addition to writing for InfoPhilic, Amit loves to read and try new things.